About Us

This website serves three offices of the Archdiocese of Washington: the Office of Priest Vocations, Saint John Paul II Seminary, and the Office of Formation for seminarians. The Archdiocese of Washington comprises the District of Columbia and five Maryland counties: Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s. It is the home of 580,000 Catholics, served by 140 parishes and almost 100 Catholic schools.

The Office of Priest Vocations assists those who are discerning a call to follow Jesus in the sacred priesthood, as one of his closest collaborators in his continuing mission on earth to lead and sanctify his people and draw them towards their homeland in heaven. Priests serve their people by their preaching, shepherding, and in a particular way through the administration of the sacraments, especially the celebration of Holy Mass. Through vocation events for different age groups, the Vocation Director of the Archdiocese, Fr. Mark Ivany, and his assistant Vocation Directors strive to build relationships with men considering the priesthood and to help them find clarity, freedom, and courage on their path of discernment – whether that path leads them towards the priesthood or not. More information on discernment of the priesthood can be found on this website under the “Am I Called?” submenu, and vocation events under the “Events” submenu. Promoting the priesthood and building a culture of vocations are highlighted in the “Promote” submenu.

Saint John Paul II Seminary is a seminary founded in 2011 by Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, for the priestly formation of young men in college, who major in philosophy, and pre-theology, a philosophy certificate program for college graduates. The Seminary is located near The Catholic University of America where the men in formation take their academic classes. More information about the seminary can be found on this website under the “Seminary” submenu.

The Office of Formation is responsible for the preparation and formation of all the seminarians of the Archdiocese of Washington, studying at seminaries in Washington, DC; Emmitsburg, Maryland; Rome; and Boston. These men can be "met" online in the “Meet Us” section of this website.

A calling to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ is one of the most beautiful gifts that a Catholic man can receive.